신명기 20:19 할라카: Mishneh Torah, Torah Study, Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars, The Sabbath Epistle & Mishneh Torah, Negative Mitzvot

The students increase the master's wisdom and broaden his heart. The sages said: "Much wisdom have I learned from my masters, more than that from my colleagues, but from my disciples more than from all of them combined." (Ta'anit, 7a). Even as a little fagot kindles the big one, so a small disciple sharpens the mind of the master to the end that he brings forth from him by his questions a beautified wisdom.¹³Makkot, 10a; Ta’anit 7b. C. G.

When we besiege a city which we want to capture, we do not encircle it from all four sides, but only on three. We leave one side open for them to flee. Anyone who wishes to escape with his life may so do, as it says, “and you shall deploy against Midian, as G-d had commanded Moses” (Numbers 31:7). By Tradition we have learned that this is what was meant.

Fruit-bearing trees must not be cut down outside of the city⁴³Under siege in order to pain them. nor do we block their irrigation water causing the trees to dry up, as it says, “do not destroy her trees” (Deut. 20:19). Anyone who cuts down a tree receives lashes. This is not only at times of a siege, but anyone at anytime who chops down a fruit-bearing tree by for destructive purposes receives stripes. The tree may be cut down if it is damaging other trees or it is damaging another’s field, or because the tree is more valuable for its wood than its fruit. The Torah only forbids wanton destruction.